Very rude owner and terrible customer service. Don't give a penny to this company, he only sells garbage from China. Cheap plastic low quality 2mp cameras that are worth maybe $40 are being sold for $300+ Walked into the Vancouver location (Had to call the store first and ask the owner to unlock the door because he was in the back "making a coffee"... It seemed like I was burdening him by trying to give him my business. Then I asked if he carried any HikVision products. He snarled "Nope!", and left to the back to never be seen again. My wife and I couldn't believe how bad the service was. Very disappointing and I honestly hope this store goes out of business!! read more

I am a private investigator in Ontario, with a client concerned that someone might have put a bug or hidden camera somewhere in their house. My license is relatively new, so I didn't have the equipment needed for the job. I did some research and found two devices that have the functionality we needed - one on Amazon and one from thespystore.ca (the online extension of this Surrey store, and two others in Vancouver and Calgary). We discussed it at length, and decided to buy from this store, even though the price was 3x the cost of the device on Amazon, and would take three days longer to arrive, because we believed that we were more likely to get the customer service and technical support we needed from a Canadian Company with storefronts. After all, if we ran into any trouble, we could just pick up the phone and call. You can't do that over Amazon. We paid $21 for the fastest possible shipping (5 day ETA), then sent a friendly email as soon as we paid (late on a Friday), to let them know that that order was time sensitive. We wanted to make sure it was sent right away. We offered to pay extra for faster if it was possible. Three days later I tried to calling one of the stores, but couldn't reach any of them. A recording at each told me to change my call settings a they don't take calls from private numbers. I adjusted my settings as instructed and tried again; still couldn't get through. I DID manage to reach someone by sending a message on Facebook messenger - they were even very helpful, and were able to get someone to respond to my email. The reply gave me a tracking number and said that the device had been sent the day it was ordered, and (as per the other question that was in the original message) I could count on him for tech support if the device didn't seem to work. He gave me his number to call. I was relieved - delays in responses happen, I figured they were busy - but then I entered the tracking number at Canada Post. The day we placed the order was just before 4:00 a.m. on Saturday. The order had not been received by Canada Post until the evening on Monday, just before 7:00 p.m. Right away I tried to call Larry, but again, was blocked from getting through by their system. Double-checked my settings, tried again, blocked. I wrote back to let Larry know - that Canada Post received the package late, and that I couldn't call the number as it was blocking me along with the rest. Could he please write or call me back at my number? The item arrived two days later - early! Thank you Canada Post! I opened it, put it together following the instructions in the manual, then tried to test it. Nothing. It is an all-in-one camera detector that I can't get to pickup on either of two on and operating cameras, a wi-fi signal, or a cell phone. In my inbox I still had no reply from Larry. So I sent another follow-up over messenger on Facebook, this time more stern than I had been to this point. I explained the situation, and said "Larry assured me that he was available to troubleshoot technical issues. I replied to him, as I have advised here, that I can't call the number he provided, and now it's been another two days without a response...I'm not trying to be a headache here". Nothing. So I sent another follow-up to sales@thespystore.ca (I think there is a team using the same account). I wasn't "friendly", but I was reasonable. I wasn't trying to provoke an argument, I was trying to incite them to take the situation seriously. I explained the problem with the device and re-iterated the time-sensitivity in the same matter-of-fact tone that I have written the whole story out here, adding "I shouldn't have to work this hard for a basic level of customer service." Their response, within ten minutes (and after all that) was, quote: "Ooo , so negative , you don't know what you are talking about .Not a very good start , but if you don't like it send it back ,un open and un used (Sic.)" You have to open the box and put it together to know if it works or not. My client covered the $300+ cost of this. If I can't get it to work or it is actually defective (sources online other than the store suggest my chance is 50/50), I might have no choice but to buy the device we considered on Amazon in the first place and then refund them the difference, both from my own pocket. read more

The WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE I have ever received in my life. In fact it was shocking how bad it was. I called the store during business hours several times but no answer so I drove for an hour through traffic to show up at the store. The owner was sitting playing games on his computer. Then when he saw me he started picking his nose in front of me & wouldn't even acknowledge me. So I asked him if he could help me & he said no. I said are you open & he said no while continuing to pick his nose. I said when are you open & he actually said "I don't know" THE WORST SERVICE! I would not give a penny of my business to this rude store owner. What a waste of my time! read more

I went to the Surrey location yesterday. It's hidden in a plaza next to a pizza shop. I walk in and there is a guy sitting in a chair in the corner behind the counter. First thing he says is if I'm waiting on my pizza. I said no but I was interested in purchasing a home surveillance camera system and if he had any suggestions. He told me to go home and do my research on the internet. I told him I had already so now I wanted to see them physically and what's available. Also to see true picture on a TV set as opposed to printed on a brochure. He then said I would have to purchase a $50 membership and only then he could provide me a 10 minute run down. I gave him a puzzled look (the whole time he hasn't even bothered to stand up) then my wife walks in. I gave her a quick summary of our conversation so far and told her how useless his assistance was and that this guy was a useless tit. He told me I was being verbally abusive and told me to leave. I got in his face, told him he was a fucking idiot, said he won't be in business much longer, I'd write a review of his business practices then walked out and slammed his store front door behind me. I've never heard glass rattle and shake so much. We drove to Costco in poco and purchased a 4K system by Lorex for $500. Thanks SpyWhore! You'll never see my money...EVER! read more

I was looking for a micro cassette recorder. I found one on their website. I know it's old tech, but I needed to review some old tapes. I phoned all 4 locations without success. I finally left a message at the surrey location. Of course, I didn't receive a call back. 2 days later I decide to stop by the surrey store. When we walk in, the guy looks up for a micro second and states: "membership only guys". I ask him if this is the spystore.ca he responds "I don't know, you would know better than me". My buddy asks how do you get a membership? The reply: "I don't know". From there things just got increasingly worse. In the end nasty expletives were exchanged and that was that. After leaving the store I called the Vancouver location and it appears that both locations provide similar customer service. Perhaps they may need to change their employee training program. I'm pretty certain that these stores are just fronts for money laundering. Given the consistent lack of customer service there is no other way they've stayed in business. I will never shop there and have decided that it will be a personal hobby of mine to let people, including the police, know my opinion about them. read more

If I could give ZERO STARS, I would. I had a horrible experience at this store in Surrey. I had needed some help and advice about what kind of product to buy, so I decided to drive to the store to speak with them. It is a dingy looking place with the shop windows obscured so that you can't see in. At first, I thought maybe it was closed and that the shop was empty, but I tried the door anyway and it opened. There was an ugly-looking guy behind the counter who started to walk to wards me with his hid down to avoid looking at me. I said "hello" to him and he did not respond. He just kept walking and kept his head down. Again, I said "hello" with the same response as before. So I YELLED "hello", and he looked up without responding. So I YELLED "hello into his face". He reluctantly mumbled "hello" back. I told him I thought perhaps he had lost his tongue, and his said "this is for members only". I never even got a chance to tell him why I was there. "Members only?" I asked. "Members only" I said "How much is a membership", and he said "$50". I asked him what I would get for a membership, and he said "Go to the website and take what you want then come and see me," in a Russian accent, and he refused to talk to me. I told him what a wonderful personable man he appeared to be and he was equally sarcastic back. I think the police should be checking out this store. I believe him to be Larry Makinov, the owner, or some such similar name. This man is not running a normal business and does not want customers. I am very suspicious. He was absolutely horrible. I told him that I had no intention, now, of going to his website. He is a very creepy guy.,............. read more

Went there to look and see what we could buy and right away the guy was on to us about $50 for membership and we couldn't look around .was like he was being racist and discriminating . read more

The Spy Store provides simply the worst customer service I have ever seen!! They also carry inferior products and offer only 3 month warranties on equipment (when it's supposed to be a year for the equipment I bought)! They have several competitors that may not be local but they will send it to you in just a few days!! You will be so much happier if you simply go elsewhere! How they handle things at the Spy Store is unbelievable. The Calgary location is absolutely the worst though, much worse than this Surrey location, if you can believe it!! As well I learned that the 3 month warranty they offered me on my PV500 is "their" warranty period and not the manufacturers. The manufacturer's warranty is actually a year, and they would not even entertain the idea of helping me out at 3 months!! I have spent thousands of dollars with them, and thought I would be treated with at least a shred of decency, but I was wrong! The good news is that I was able to find a quality vendor to help me out. His prices are cheaper, service is better and they offer the entire 1 year warranty!! I am not mentioning who I went with as I do not want this message to be perceived as anything besides a customer who is very unhappy with a business that does not care about their customers at all. And I hope anyone reading this will do their best to find someone else to deal with, if only to vindicate the people that they treat so poorly. So to summarize..... -If you want to be treated horribly (it does not matter the location based on previous reviews) -Receive inferior advice -Be talked down to -Possibly kicked out of the store for simply browsing -Speak into a sketchy speaker to even get in -To show up to the location and it possible be not even open yet -Told you need a membership fee (This is their way of only dealing with people that will buy) -Given warranties significantly shorter than what the manufacturer offers and overall interact, and deal with really shady people than I would highly recommend the Spy Store to you! But for me, I will choose a company that wants my business and is willing to treat me like a human being and wants my business! read more

just purchased item 201, b / w peephole camera from this company. works great, very happy!

I went to the store located in Surrey. I saw a bunch of people leaving the store very angry and they were saying "I guess he doesn't want any business." Then I entered the store, then I saw a middle eastern man sitting behind the show case. he soon said that the membership is $50. Then I ask him for a product that I came there to buy. His response was " go somewhere else I'm married" then I said to him sorry as in what? Then he said to me " What do you want? Do you want to hung me? Do you want to kiss me? Do you want to kiss me?" He was implying that I am a homosexual. I felt extremely insulted!! Then I drove to the Vancouver location, and bought the product that I wanted. However the product was defective. I also told the guys at the Vancouver locate about this guy in Surrey. They just laughed at me and told me to send an email. The guys at the Vancouver locate were some what ok, however they acted a little shady and also seemed not to care about the business as well. My opinion is that there is some monkey business going with this company. I suspect that there is some type of money laundering! This company has several locations with little to no business which is highly suspicious! read more